Vehicle signaling mechanism



f Aug. 8, 1939.

P.*A. PENNocK VEHICLE SIGNALING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5.' 193s 3 Sheets-rSheet l l mw.

PAULAIENNQCKI Aug". 8, 1939. P. A. PENNocK I VEHICLE S'IGNALING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5, 1936 3mm/woz, PAUL APENNOCK;

Aug. 8, 1939. P A. PENNocK lVEHICLE! SIGNALING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.` 5, 1936 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling mechanism particularly adapted for use on automobiles or other self-propelled vehicles and especially useful on school buses, police cars, ambulances, fire en- Ii` gines or the like which are permitted to travel at a high rate of speed.

One important object is to provide such a construction as may be operated by the vacuum or suction within an internal combustion engine, particularly from the intake manifold.

It is also aimed to provide such a device as may be oscillated or operated continuously or only at times as preferred and which may incorporate an advertising function.

become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, embodying suggested embodiments, and taken in connection with the following description.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an automobile chassis fragmentarily, with one form of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a viewprimarily in longitudinal,

in section of `a modified form operable from theV hydraulic brake system of the automobile;

40 box for a further modified form;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the `closure for the part of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the motor of the form of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the control mechanism for the motor of Figure l1;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the last form of signal and associated parts, and

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section view through the last mentioned form of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, I generally designates a signal device adapted to be mounted at the rear of an autovmobile for observation by adjacent traic. Such The more specific objects and advantages will vertical section through the signal device and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the casing or signal device has a casing I I of any suitable shape which is preferably open at the front. For example, said casing may be fastened to a plate or bracket I2 attached to a side beam or other part of an automobile or its chassis I3. Said bracket I2 may also mount a license plate I4 adapted to be illuminated by a lamp I5 within the casing through a window I6 in the wall of the casing. n

Across the front` of box or casing II is a removable glass, Celluloid or other transparent disk or plate I1 and removably disposed thereover is a cover plate or disk I8, preferably of metal or opaque material which has openings I9 and therethrough for the display of signal indicia. Said disks `I1 and I8 are rigidly secured to the box or casing II by a clamping ringr2l which also embraces a marginal flange 22 on the casing, and which clamp is of the split type having a securing bolt 23 so that it may be removed and replaced.

Rigidly but removably carried by the cover plate or disk I8, is a shaft 24.V That shaft has a screw-threaded portion 25 which extends through p an opening in the plate I8 and is engaged by nuts 26 and 21 clamped against the plate I8 and plate I1, respectively. A washer 28 is preferably interposed between nut 26 and plate I8 and a pin or key 29 is removably driven friction-tight through openings in nut 21 and shaft 24 and to further guard against accidental displacement of the parts, a V-shaped or other lug extends inwardly at 30 from the cover plate, and intimately engages two sides of the nut 21 across the path of removal of said pin or key 28.

A vacuum operating motor for the signal is located at 3I within the signal box or casing and on a closure or removable end wall 32 for the cylinder 33 thereof, has a bracket 34 to which ay screw-threaded stud 35 of stationary shaft 24 is rigidly fastened by a nut 36.

Journalled on said shaft 24, between bracket 34 and nut 21 is a sleeve 31 forming an integral or rigid part of a plate-like holder 38 for a signal element 39. Said holder 38 has segmental openings therethrough at 40, 4I, 42 and 43. Signal element 39 is made of any suitable diaphanous material and has delineated thereon the words stop, go and name of car or the equivalent, normally respectively aligned with the openings 4I, 42 and 43. `Normally the word go may be observed through the opening I9 of the cover plate and no indicia` appears through the opening 20 of the same place. Through means now to be described, associated with motor 3l, holder 38 and signal element 39 are adapted to be rocked or rotated to and from a position which displays stop at the opening I9 and name of car at the opening 20, through the application and release of the brake pedal of the automobile, conventionally shown at 44.

Said holder 38 has a marginal curved portion 45 and an annular rim 46 positioning the signal element 39 and the latter is removably clamped therein by a split wire ring or equivalent at 46'.

A gear or pinion 4l carried rigidly on the sleeve 3'! is enmeshed with the teeth 48 of a rack bar 49, carried by a suitable piston 59, which rack bar is slidable in an opening in wall 32. An expansive coil spring 5I within the cylinder 33, urges the piston 5|) into contact with said wall 32 and normally maintains it in that position.

Advantage is taken of the vacuum or suctionY produced by the operation of the propelling engine of the automobile which is generally suggested at 52. From the intake manifold 53 of the latter, pipes or tubes 54 and 55 lead, the former operating any desired accessory such as a windshield wiper and the latter leading to one end of a cylinder 55 fastened to the automobile chassis as at 51. Cylinder 56 contains a control valve or piston 58 normally closing such cylinder to the action of the vacuum or suction. Valve or piston 58 has a rod 58' extending exteriorly of the cylinder 56 and an expansive coil spring 59 Within said cylinder normally maintains valve 58 closed and urges it to closed position. To an outlet nipple 6B on cylinder 56, a flexible tube 6| is connected which is also connected to a nipple 62on motor cylinder 33 communicating with the interior of the latter through a passage 63 in the Wall of such cylinder 433. Tube 9| extends through the same opening in box or casing as does a conductor 64 which supplies they lamp I5 with current from any suitable source. Said lamp is shown as mounted by a bracket 65 fastened to said cylinder 33. Thus, it will be realized that all parts within the box or casing are unitarily mounted or connected together so that they may be removed or replaced through the application or removal of ring clamp 2|.

The device is operated by depressing the brake pedal 44. As the latter moves, through a link 66, it applies the brakes of the automobile as it is connected to a crank B'I on a transverse rockshaft 68 connected to the conventional brake mechanism 69, the rod being maintained in a predetermined or retracted position by a contractile spring 'I0 connected to crank 61 and to the chassis. Through such depression of the brake pedal 44, a crank 'II on shaft 68 engages a lug I2 on the rod 58' which moves valve 58 forwardly past outlet 69 and hence there is a line of suction or vacuum created in the device from the engine 52, through pipe 55, cylinder 56, pipe 6|, nipple 62, passage 63 and cylinder 33, drawing piston 58 and rack bar 49 to the rear, which causes teeth 48 to turn pinion 41 and accordingly the signal holder 38 and signal element. As a result, go which normally appears at opening I9, is shifted 90 to the right, and stop appears at opening I9 and name of car appears at opening 2|), and this condition exists until brake pedal 44 is released, whereupon the suction or vacuum is cut off by spring 59 restoring valve 58 to closed position and spring 5| restoring the holder and signal to normal position, any retarding air within the cylinders 56 and 33 bleeding along theY pistons and rods thereof to the atmosphere.

V- The signal device of the form of Figures 1 to '7 may be operated by means other than the suction or vacuum of the engine if desired. For instance, the same may be operated from a hydraulic brake system, when the automobile employs such a system as suggested in Figure 8. In this modified form, a depressible foot brake lever 'I3 has a connection 'I4 with the control device 'I5 of the hydraulic brake system, from which device 'I5 a pipe 'I6 at a coupling 'Il connects with fluid-applying conduits 'I8 leading to the brakes according to conventional structure. A branch pipe 'I9 leads from coupling 'Il to a motor 89 through which pipe 'I9 the brake fluid is forced and retracted to actuate the piston 8| or that motor and in turn, through a rack bar 82 and gear 83, operate a rotatable signal device 84, corresponding to that of the preceding form, the stationary shaft 85 corresponding to the shaft 24 and having a sleeve |35a thereon carrying gear 83,

Referring now to the form of Figures 9 to 14, the signal operates or oscillates or rocks on a horizontal axis disposed transversely of the automobile rather than longitudinally thereof as in the previous forms. This nal form of the invention has a casing or box 86, preferably cylindrical, adapted to be mounted in any suitable manner on the automobile and having straps 81 connected thereto which mount a license plate 88 and an auxiliary license plate 89, the former and latter being arranged for illumination from the interior of casing 86 through windows 90 and 3|, respectively. Such casing 86 preferably has an enlargement 92 at the rear end thereof whose end wall may be fastened to the automobile by means of bolts 93. An open portion of the casing 86, best shown in Figures 9 and 14, is normally closed by a removable closure 94 as detailed in Figure 10. 'Ihe longitudinal edges of closure 94 engage grooves 95 at the edge portions about said open portion of the casing, with one end of the closure underlapping a rim 96 on the casing, and the other end of the closure carrying a rim portion 97 adapted to overlap and at 98 be fastened removably to the adjacent end wall of said casing 86. Closure 94 has a window 99 preferably covered by a transparent plate I 99 through which the signal may be viewed.

Disposed in casing 86 is a signal frame |03 having a longitudinally extending shaft I BI to Which the end walls |02 of such signal frame |93 are rigidly fastened. The frame |93 has three walls |94, |05 and-|96 disposed at angles to each other behind which signal elements are removably fastened in any suitable manner, at IIlI, |98 and |09, respectively, all of such elements being diaphanous. Signal element |91 is preferably of red glass or red Celluloid so that the device will normally constitute a tail light when the device is illuminated as by lamp |I9, since thc wall I 94 is vertical when the device is at rest, as indicated in Figure 14. The diaphanous sheets or plates |08 and |09 respectively have delineated thereon stop and the name of the automobile, so as to be read through the window plate |00 as the frame is operated to bring such words in registry with said plate |00.

The aforesaid casing enlargement 92 houses an operating motor III for the signal frame. Said motor has a cylinder I I2 and a removable end plate I I3, connected together and mounted by inward extensions of the bolts 93. Fastened to the under surface of cylinder |I2 is a bracket ||4 in the forward end of which the aforesaid shaft |9| is journalled. A clamp I5 on said bracket ||4 secures the lamp IIU in place and current for the latter is supplied from any suitable source through a conductor opening H1 in the casing enlargement 92.`

A suitable piston ||8 is kreciprocable in cylinder I2 and normally is at the forward end thereof. A rod I 9 extends forwardly from said piston IIB having rack teeth |20 enmeshed with a gear or pinion |2| rigidlo'n the shaft |D|. The forward end of rod i9 or portion |22 on which teeth |23 are provided is normally adapted to Vrest against a bumper |23 forming part of a frame |24 extending forwardly from the front end wall of the cylinder ||2. Piston rod ||9 passes slidably through the said front end wall.

Said piston ||8 is adapted to be actuated by means of any power fluid. It is shown, for example, as operable by suction or vacuum from the operation of the propelling internal combustion engine of the automobile asin the case of the form of Figures l to '1. To this end a tube or pipe |25 is connected to ar nipple |26 passing through enlargement 32 and fastened to the cylinder at end plate H3, Said pipe or tube |25 is connected to the intake manifold of the engine or otherwise for producing a suction or vacuum therethrough. A boss |23a on end plate |3 communicates with tube |26 and has a port |26b therethrough.

with said end portions |33 and so held by a contractile spring |33 connected at opposite ends to vertical rods |34 and |35. Rod |34 is carried by lever |32 and such rod |34 is also connected to and operates valves |21 and |28. Rod |35 is carried by lever |35' and it is associated with a bracket |36 on said end plate H3, having lugs |31 limiting the movement of the lever |35. One end of a hook element |33 is surrounded by the lever |35 and that portion of the spring |33 engaging rod |35, passes at |39 through the element |33. Part of hook element |38 is disposed within a chamber member |43 carried by piston H8. At the open end of chamber member |40 is a projection |4| which is engageable by the hook |42 of hook element |38 adjacent the end of the inward stroke of piston I8 to close valve |21 and open valve |23, while such hook element |38 is adapted to abut the closed end of chamber member |43 adjacent the end of the outer stroke of piston ||8 to open valve |21 and close valve |28. Valve |28 has a tapered portion |28B4 which intimately ts a tapered seat |23b. When valve |23 is open it is loose in its seat |23b to break the vacuum.

In the operation of this nal form of the invention starting from normal position as in Figure 14 with panel |31 constituting a tail light signal viewed through window glass |33, vacuum or suction through pipe |25 and nipple |23 draws piston H8 to the right in Figure 14 and causing teeth |23 to turn pinion |2| and frame |33 with which it is rigid in an upward direction until the position of Figure 13 is reached, such frame |33 during said movement successively displaying stop and the name ofthe automobile at the window glass |30. Adjacent the end of such movement chamber member |43 engages a shoulder |43 on hook member |38 pressing it toward plate ||3 to such an extent that the levers |32 ||6 passing `through an and |35 move past dead center, moving vertical rods |34`and |35 toward plate ||3 and thereby opening valve |28 to establish communication with the atmosphere while closing valve |21 to break the suction or vacuum. The spring |33 snaps the levers |32 and |35 into such position, as dead center is passed. The weight of the parts especially at the frame is suiiicient to fall or return to normal position upon the said closing of valve |21 during which return movement the stop and tail light signals are successively displayed. Also during such return or lowering movement of the signal frame |03, gearing |2| and |20 draws rod IIS and piston IB away from plate I3 with projection |4| on chamber member |40 engaging the hook |42 adjacent the end of such movement, thus drawing lever |35 back to normal position and when past dead center the spring |33 snaps both levers |32 and |35 into normal position. The nal form is thus adapted for operation with the tail light, stop and name of the car successively displayed on each upward movement of the signal frame and such signals in the reverse order displayed on the downward or return`movement of such frame. Because of this action, the structure is particularly adapted for use on automobiles which travel at a rate of speed higher than normal, for instance, police vehicles and ambulances, although it is to be understood that pipe |25 need not be constantly subject to suction or vacuum but may be intermittently so subjected, or operated in any suitable manner.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. v

I claim as my invention:

1. An automobile signaling structure having a casing provided with .a window at one side thereof and having an enlargement projecting beyond the other side thereof, an operating motor mounted in said enlargement, a bracket supported at one end by said motor and having a distal end portion extending from said motor into the casing, a signaling frame within the casing having indicia for display at said window, a shaft rigid with said frame, said shaft being disposed longitudinally of the casing `at an angle to the bracket and journalled on said distal end portion of the bracket, a rod reciprocable by said motor in a path at an angle to said shaft, said rod extending into the casing, and gearing between said rod and said shaft to operate said frame to move said indicia to and from registry with said window.

2. An automobile signaling structure according to claim 1 including a bumper for said rod, said bumper extending from the motor and being located in the casing, a piston in said motor operating said rod, a chamber member on said piston, a hookl member partly telescoped in said chamber member and operable by the latterat opposite extremes of movement of the piston, operation-controlling valve mechanism to open and close through the movement of the hook member, and a spring to snap said Valve mechanism from open to closed position and vice versa.

3. An automobile signaling structure having a casing provided with a window and with an enlargement, an operating motor located in said enlargement, a bracket extending forwardly from said motor into the casing, a signaling frame within the casing having indicia for display at said window, a shaft rigid with said frame journaled on said bracket, a rod operable by said C motor, gearing betweensaid rod and said shaft opposite extremes of movement of the piston, to operate said frame, a bumper for said rod, operation-controlling Valve mechanism to open said bumper being located in the casing and exand close through the movement of the hook tending from said motor, a piston in said motor member, and a spring to snap said valve mecha- 5 operating said rod, a chamber member on said nism from open to closed position and vice versa. 5

piston, a hook member partly telescoped in said chamber member and operable by the latter at PAUL A. PENNOCK. 

